Call of a Loving God ( Homily)

Yesterday when I called one of my friends, as I did not find him around as usual, his voice was shivering. He was nervous and I am sure he was in tears. After a long pause, he narrated me the tragic story of his sister’s family. A few days ago, his sister’s son who just completed his II PUC in Mangalore , had gone home for a few days on holidays. Given to his restless nature, against the will of others, he took the motor bike and went for a ride .  Hours later he was found dead on the spot, meeting an accident .The whole event has left the disharmony of life, which is difficult to be filled.

Today, I would like to base my reflections on the theme obedience. The readings of today, on the periphery look as if they are presenting contrasting views. In the first reading Saul is asked not to take along with him anything after defeating and destroying the enemies.  As per the tradition and human frailty, he takes along best of best, things that pleased him, all with good intention and we find him being confronted.

On the contrary Jesus defends his own disciples when they do not follow the traditions. We have yet another example in the gospel, Jesus sending 10 lepers, to show themselves to the priests. In fact the 9 obeyed what he said and Jesus praised the one who did not do what he said.

I find the gospel, complementing and completing the meaning of Obedience given by the first reading – to go a step further, to go a step deeper and then follow.

What then is Obedience? In simple words, breaking one’s own will/ego.

When Gandhi was ill treated, in SA, the natural instinct would have been, a violent outbreak or resistance. When Sr Teresa, who later named Mother, saw those lepers and people dying with maggots on them on the streets of Kolkata, the natural instinct would have been aversion and a  feeling of running away from the place. The rest is a history.

Thus one can say obedience is, going beyond once own immediate instinctual or ego need and listening to a deeper voice.

Jesus, was a person as I find, was constantly in touch with his inner world. In the book Yesu Maha Darshana, by Latha Rajashekar, Jesus says, I cannot but will, what my Father Wills. Gandhi, going beyond, is going deeper than the call of his natural instinct found God, a reality that he named Truth.

 Possibly, the deeper we go, listening to our inner voice( egoless), we meet a serene, calm and a loving God, a place where there is perfect harmony. And in that state, as Jesus says, we cannot but will what God wills.

Thus obedience, Agere Contra, Dying to one’s ego- is a call of a loving God, to come to him, to be with him. During this Eucharistic celebration, let’s ask for the courage to be obedient.